The focus of this study is on identifying the relationship between core competencies of the department chairperson and the stakeholder ratings of these competencies. As a mid-level leader, the department chairperson has direct influence on the majority of decisions impacting the university as it pertains to students, faculty, curriculum, accreditation, and research. However, new department chairpersons enter their position with little knowledge and/or experience in academic leadership. This study explores six primary questions: Are there differences in the relative prioritized rate of importance of core competencies needed by department chairpersons as perceived by stakeholder position (faculty, chair, and deans)? How do current, sitting academic chairs prioritize the relative importance of core competencies for themselves and their peers, as well as for new or future department chairs? How do faculty prioritize the relative rate of importance of core competencies for department chairs? Are their differences in the relative prioritized rate of importance of core competencies needed by department chairpersons as perceived by race/ethnicity? Are their differences in the relative prioritized rate of importance of core competencies needed by department chairpersons as perceived by gender? Are their differences in the relative prioritized rate of importance of core competencies needed by department chairpersons as perceived by tenure status? Three doctoral research universities in the state of North Carolina were selected for the study. Faculty, deans and chairperson perception of the relative importance of department chairperson's core competencies were collected by means of an online survey. A prioritized list of respondent ratings of core competencies was provided by means of pairwise comparisons of elements of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) hierarchy of chair competencies. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]